Timing device for telephones



May 28, 1940.

B. N. GOTTLIEB 2,202,149 TIMING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES Filed Aug. 50, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 28, 1940. B. N. GOTTLIEB TIMING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1937 BERNARD N. Gomnss INVENTOR.

BY K ATTORNEY.

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMING DEVICE FOR TELEPHONES Bernard N. Gottlieb, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 30, 1937, Serial No. 161,594

14' Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the application of timing devices to telephone systems, and especially to a group of two or more telephones in an extension system.

With the growing use and popularity of telephones there is also developing the use of more than one telephone on one line. A subscriber will subscribe to one line or telephone listing, within his office or home he will have two or more telephone instruments connected to this line, and incoming and outgoing calls may be received and made from any one of them. Only one call can be made or received at any one time; that is, when one of the subscribers telephone sets is being used, the remaining telephones can only be used for listening in. No further calls can be received or made until the conversation has been concluded and all the receivers have been replaced on their hooks.

The difiiculty and trouble which my invention eliminates will be explained in connection with the combined office and residence of a medical doctor. His experience is typical for residences and small offices in general:

In addition to the telephone on his office desk, the doctor will havea telephone extension in his livingand bedroom. He may even have one in his bathroom and garage. Suppose he receives a call while he is in the bedroom. He is asked a question which he cannot fully. answer until he has consulted some records and other references in his office. He cannot replace the receiver on its hook, for that will disconnect the party at the other end of he line. He must lay the receiver down alongside the telephone in the bedroom, go down to his office, look up the records, and then continue the conversation by using the office telephone. l/Vhen he is thru with the call he replaces the receiver on its hook, but, his line cannot receive or make further calls until the receiver in the bedroom has been returned to its proper place. Therefor he must make a trip back to the bedroom for that.

If the call should happen to be an emergency one, and after he has consulted his references he forgets, or decides to ignore the fact that his bedroom receiver is off the hook, and goes out, his telephone will give the busy signal to all incoming calls to the detriment perhaps of additional professional business.

It is within the experience of many owners of extension telephone systems to have wondered why certain expected calls have not come in, or after trying to make an outgoing call to. no avail conclude that their line was out of. order,

only to learn subsequently that the receiver of one of their extension telephones was not in its proper place.

In urban centers where the private home will usually consist of two floors and a basement, and where the kitchen or the office may be in the basement and the bedrooms are on the second floor, it is a hardship to walk down from the second floor to the basement to conclude a telephone conversation and then to climb back up again to replace the first receiver. To sick people and older ones with Weak hearts, such a procedure is a distinct detriment to health.

It is an object of this invention to provide means whereby after a predetermined interval of time a telephone, with its receiver off the hook, will be automatically reconnected into its enunciator circuit.

Returning to the doctors office again: It very often happens that the nurse answers a call intended for the doctor, and the doctor being busy, she asks the caller to wait. She lays the receiver down alongside the telephone instrument, and then she or the doctor or both forget about it completely to the great annoyance, to say the least, of theperson making the call.

It is another object of this invention to provide means whereby, after the passage of a predetermined interval of time in which a telephone is placed in the conversation circuit, a signal will be given.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means which will automatically first give a signal and then return the telephone to its enunciator circuit when the receiver has been removed from the instrument for a given length of time.

The outstanding features of this invention reside in the novel adaptations of timing devices, which are old per se, to the objects in view. These features are in and of themselves improvements in the timing-device art.

Other objects and features will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar reference numerals indicate similar parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a representation of a preferred form of my invention attached to a desk telephone.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the clockwork mechanism.

Fig. 3 shows a telephone with my self-winding timer attached.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 4-5 of Fig. 3 showing the operating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is asection of the wall in Fig. 2 illustrating how the operating arm is slidably supported.

Fig. 6 shows a simple adaptation of a timing device to a telephone for the object in view.

Fig. '7 shows a pneumatic counterpart of the device shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 shows a pneumatic counterpart of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is another adaptation of a timing device for the purposes in View.

Fig. 10 is a variation of the device shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view looking downwardly on Fig. 3.0.

Fig. 12 is still another variation in the application of a timing device to return a telephone into its ringing circuit.

Referring to Fig. l: i is a telephone to which, by means of clamp 2, is attached the timing-device casing 3. The casing end of the clamp 2 is bifurcated and between these two bifurcations 3, 3, (see Fig. 2) the casing 3 is pivotally supported by means of pin 5. One of the bifurcations l has a rigid arm 6 extending downwardly, and pivotally linking this arm with a crank ll protruding from the side of the casing 33 is the connecting lever 8. Protruding from the free end of the casing 3 is the actuating L shaped arm 9. In the figure the full lines show casing 3 in its operative position and the dashed lines show it in its extreme inoperative position. In the former portion of the drawing the circles it represent the gear-train of a clockwork mechanism which is housed within the casing 3.

In swinging the casing from extreme inoperative position to operative position crank i, by reason of linkage ii, rotates substantially in a semi-circle with respect to the casing, thereby winding the clockwork and moving the actuating arm 9 outwardly. In its upper position the clock- Work begins to unwind and thus retract arm 9. Eventually the latter contacts the telephone plunger H and draws it down to close the telephone enunciator circuit. The' efiect is as if the telephone receiver had been replaced on its support.

In practice this device would be attached to one or more of the telephones in an extension system. Upon receiving a call on one of these instruments and desiring to continue on another, it is necessary only to flip casing 3 into the operating position. The clockwork mechanism, thru the medium of arm 3, will depress the telephone switch It after a predetermined interval of time sufiicient to allow one to get to another instrument in the system. The receiver of the first telephone may be replaced into its proper place at leisure subsequently.

Fig. 2 is a section along line 22 of casing 3 in Fig. 1 and illustrates a preferred type of clockwork mechanism required. The casing 3 has been extended in a horizontal position with respect to its mounting so that the shape of clamp 2 may be clearly shown. In the figure, 02 is a hair spring, i3 is the scape, i4 is the escapement wheel, l5, l6, and ill are intermediate gears and pinions, and i6 is the main gear to which one end of the coil spring 49 is attached. The other end it of spring id is fixed to the cover plate ii of easing 3 by means of pin 22. The axles or shafts 23 of the hair spring I2, shaft 26 of gear Hi and pinion l5, and shaft 25 of gear it and pinion ii are all rotatively supported by the sides of the casing 3. Shaft 24, gear M and pinion l5 are keyed together. Pinion H is keyed to shaft 25 by set screw 26. Between pinion ill and gear i3 is the circular spring washer 2i which forces gear 56 (which in the absence of the said washer is free- 1y rotatable about shaft 25) against shoulder 28 of shaft 25. The combination of pinion ill, gear Hi and washer 27 is in efiect a slip clutch.

The main shaft or main stem to which gear I8 is rigidly fixed has one end rotatively supported by the side 25 of the casing 3, the other end 30 is rotatively housed in bushing 3! which is itself rotatively supported by the side 32 of the casing 3.

Bushing 3!, on the inside of casing 3, terminates in the clutch disc 33. To the outer end of bushing 3i, fixed against rotation by screw 34, is fastened crank arm 7. Between the side 32 of the casing and disc 33 is positioned spring 25. Just below bushing 3! in the plane of crank 1 on the outside of side 32 is the boss with the inclined surface 35.

For practically the entire rotation of casing 3 from inoperative to operative position clutch plate 33 is grasping gear l8, and thus the gear and the spring l9 are wound or unwound by movements of crank l; crank I must necessarily rotate by reason of its linkage to arm 6 by rod 8. When the casing about reaches its operative position, crank l strikes and rises up on boss 35 and thereby withdrawing the clutch 33 from contact with gear I8. Subsequently gear It begins to unwind against the resistance of the gear-train and escapement.

Gear I8 is in mesh also with rack 36 which is integral with arm 9 and thus arm 9 moves correspondingly with gear it. It moves outwardly when the spring i9 is being wound, and is retracted when the latter unwinds. The stem 31 of arm 9 to which rack 36 is attached is guided by a T shaped slot 38 in a side of the casing 3 adjacent gear I8. (See Fig. 5.)

In Figs. 3 and 4 is shown a modification of this timing device, as applied to telephones in an extension system, in which the mechanism is automatically wound and is always in operative position, and in which a manually operated latch must be employed to make it inoperative.

In Figs. 3 and 4: 39 is the actuating arm corresponding to arm 9 of Figs. 1 and 2, and 40 is the winding arm. The stem 4! of arm 39 and stem 32 of arm 49 are slidably positioned in slots similar to those shown in Fig. 5 in the cover 43 of the casing i l of the device. Integral with the cover 33 is clamp 45 which is similar in construction to clamp 2 (with the swivel connection omitted) and by means of which the device is fastened to the telephone I. 46 is the housing for a clockwork mechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that bushing 3| and its accessories are omitted,

and end 30 of the main or winding stem protrudes through the said housing so that disc 4'! may be rigidly fastened to it. Housing 46 is fastened to the casing 44 by screws d8. Stem 62 of the winding arm at its lower end widens out and contains the horizontal slot 28. The vertical width of said slot is equal to the travel of switch lever H of telephone l. Protruding into slot 48 from disc 47 is stud 39. The portion of disc 47 between stud 49 and shaft 30 is in effect a lever arm which upon being rotated by depressing arm lil winds the clockwork within housing 36. As the clockwork unwinds disc 47 turns with it and lifts arm M back to its original position.

Between housing 46 and disc 4-1, freely rotatable about stem 30, is disc 50. Stud 5! protruding into the plane of disc 4'! within the peripheral notch 52 thereof limits the rotation of the two discs, with respect to each other, to the length of the said slot. Disc 53 is slightly larger in diameter than disc ll, and both have coinciding depressions 53 and 53' to receive the detent 54 of the follower 55. Follower 55 is pivoted at 56 and its free end 51 extends over and beyond a protruding lug 58 on stem 4|. The detent 54 is kept in contact with disc 50 by spring 59 exerting tension on the free end 51. Spring 59 is anchored by usual means to housing 46.

The device works in the following manner: As shown in Figs. 3 and l, the receiver of the telephone is off its hook, the clockwork is unwinding, and discs 41 and 55 are rotating counter-clockwise. In another instant depressions 53 and 53 will coincide with detent 54 which will drop thereinto and simultaneously end 51 of the follower will strike lug 58 and force it down. This will bring arm 39 against switch lever I l and thus the telephone will be returned to its enunciator circuit.

When subsequently the receiver is put into its proper place its weight alone will depress arm 43 and thus rewind the clockwork mechanism. As the mechanism is rewound disc 41 rotates clockwise. Disc 58 remains stationary until lug i strikes a side of peripheral slot 52, and then the two discs rotate together. While disc 41 has been rotating the angular distance equal to the length of slot 52 the side of the depression 53', which acts as a cam, has lifted detent 54 out of depression 53 and thereafter, for the remainder of the winding operation the detent rides disc 50.

Arms 39 and 40 are made of a light material such as aluminum so that when the receiver is lifted off of switch H of the telephone 9, the spring which actuates switch i l is strong enough to lift arms 39 and 49 also, so that the operation of the telephone itself is not interfered with. In other Words, there is free play in the stems 4| and 42 of both arms equal to the displacement of switch Ii. The moment the receiver is removed the clockwork mechanism begins to unwind and arm 49 to move upward. Disc 50, by reason of the friction between it and detent 54 does not start rotating until its stud 5| strikes the other end of peripheral slot 52. Thus the cycle starts repeating itself. The clockwork herein described is intended to operate arm 39 after the elapse of a fixed period of time. It is well within the mechanical skill of one skilled in the art to design a clockwork in which the interval of time may be varied at will.

It may be desirable to have the device give a signal before the telephone switch arm II is depressed. For this reason I have supplied stem 42 Of the winding arm with an extending lug 50 so positioned that after the stem has travelled two-thirds of its way upward it strikes bell 6|. Bell [it is attached by pin 52 to the cantilever spring 53. As the lug 60 continues to move upward, bell BI is also displaced upward and to the left (shown by the dotted lines), eventually the said bell slips past lug 69 and the momentum gained in swinging back to position brings the said bell sharply against lug 64. The impact rings the bell.

It is essential that the device be rendered inoperative at the will of the person using the telephone. To control arm 39 I supply screw 65 in the wall of casing 46. When this screw is turned all the way in, it lies in the path of end 57 of the follower 55 and prevents the spring 59 from forcing detent 54 into depression 53 and thus arm 39 cannot be drawn down. Screw 66 can control winding arm 48 by having its end moved into the plane of notch 61 in the stem 42. The notch length is substantially equal to the total displacement of plunger H of telephone I, and it is so positioned on the stem that when the screw 66 engages it it limits the movement of the stem to the movements of the plunger ll. It can be seen that when screw 65 is in operative position the device will only give a signal. When screw 55 is in operative position the entire device is inoperative.

This scheme for giving signals can be incorporated in the device shown in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1, Si is the bell supported by the cantilever spring 53 protruding from casing 3, and 68 is the operating lug on the back of stem 3?. The bell is sounded on its swing back after displacement by lug 69 by impinging on casing 3.

In Fig. 7 I show in section a pneumatic counterpart of the mechanism shown in Figures 3 and 4. Clamp 2 fastens the cylinder 68 to the telephone instrument I. The winding arm 40 and its stem 32 are anchored, by well known means, to the piston 59. Intermediate the piston and the base 75 of the cylinder 58 is the spring 13. In the base 19 is the needle valve ll and the ball valve 12. The latter is so designed that air may be expelled from the cylinder by downward motion of the piston with ease, but seals itself on the upward travel of the piston. When the telephone receiver is replaced to its position on the telephone its weight depresses arm 49 and therefore piston 59. When the receiver is removed, the piston moves up rapidly for the instant in which the ball valve seals itself. This instant is sufiicient to permit arm 49 to travel the full length of the displacement of switch II. Thereafter the piston moves up slowly under the influence of spring 13. The speed is regulated by the setting of the needle valve H. When the piston 69 has passed relief hole M the suction is relieved and the piston finishes its travel rapidly and in doing so it actuates lever F5 to depress switch ii. Lever E5 is pinned to the wall of cylinder 68 by pin 76 and is so balanced that in the absence of pressure from the piston it exerts no load on switch H.

In Fig. 8 I show the pneumatic counterpart of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. 2 isthe clamp by which it is attached to the telephone i, 9 is the actuating arm, which in this case is an integral part of the cylinder 58. The needle valve is shown at II and the ball valve which is adjacent thereto is not visible. The piston H is hollow and the spring which tends to keep piston and cylinder together is positioned therein. The free end of piston "J1 is pivoted to-clamp 2, between bifurcations similar to those shown in Fig. 2, by pin 78. Integral with both these bifurcations and extending upwardly are arms 79. Rotatively pinned to these arms 19 by pins 89 are slotted bars 8!. These bars extending upwardly, one on each side of the piston, are rigidly connected together by the saddle bar 82; actually all three being stamped out of one piece of metal. The slots 83 in bars 82 terminate in short slots 84 at right angles to themselves at their lower ends. Lugs 85 extend from cylinder 58 into the plane of said slots. Between saddle 32 and the cylinder i8 is positioned the spring 85. The effect of this spring is to keep lugs 85 in line with slots 83. Spring 86 rests in a shallow cup 8l' which is adapted to slide along the outside of piston 68.

The mechanism is shown in its operative position and in dashed lines in inoperative position. To swing it into operative position and automatically wind it at the same time it is necessary to grasp it so that saddle 84 is depressed against cylinder 63. This brings lugs 85 into slots 84 and upon rotating the combination up-' ward the bars 8I act as eccentric connections and force piston I? and cylinder 68 apart. When the mechanism is in its operative position, (shown by full lines) and saddle 82 has been released, the spring within the piston tends to draw the piston and cylinder together; since lugs 85 have returned to the path of slots 83 they offer no resistance to the contraction of the mechanism. With continued movement arm 9 will eventually depress switch II (not shown). It should be noted that the ball valve in this case seals the cylinder on the exhaust stroke and not on the intake as in the case of Fig. 7.

In Fig. 6 is shown the simplest adaptation of a timing device to the objects I have in view. To the telephone 89, by means of clamp 90, is attached the timing mechanism housing 9| This housing may contain a pneumatic type or clockwork type of timing mechanism. To the piston of the pneumatic type (as indicated in Fig. 6) or to the main gear by means of a rack (as indicated in Fig. 2) is attached the stem 92. Pivoted to the upper end of this stem is the actuating arm 93 which may be rotated into and out of the plane of the hook by means of a thumbscrew 9 3 integral therewith. To set the timing device operating it is necessary merely to pull upward on stem 92 and then rotate arm 83 into position over telephone hook 95. Displacing the stem 92 upwardly winds the mechanism. The mechanism in unwinding retracts the stern downwardly, eventually to depress the hook 95.

In the remaining figures, 9 to 12 inclusive, illustrate another variation of accomplishing the objects of this invention, and in which the telephone receiver is replaced substantially into its proper place whether it is desired to continue the conversation from another instrument or not. This is in contra-distinction to the devices previously described in which the receiver must not be replaced when the conversation is to be continued from another point.

In Fig. 9, which is the preferred form of its group, II is the plunger of the telephone I to which the housing 96 of the timing device is attached by means (not visible) similar to clamp 2 previously described. The clockwork means is not shown, but it too is similar to the one shown in Fig. 2 with the clutches and rack omitted. In the figure the cover and the clockwork have been removed so that the pertinent parts may be shown more clearly. 30 is the winding stem to which, as in Fig. I, cam-disc MI is fixed and on which disc fai is rotatably supported. The relative motion of the two discs with respect to each other is again limited by stud EII protruding from disc 59 into the peripheral notch 52 of disc 41. The handle 91, which normally would be on the outside of the portion of the housing 96 which has been removed, is replaced (in the figure) on stem at and illustrates how the mechanism is wound and set.

The follower 98 which rides disc 58 terminates, at its upper end, in the arm 99 which rests on plunger II. Arm 99 is substantially the same width and length as plunger II. Follower 98 is slidably supported in the neck I00 of the housing 96. The length of follower 98 is equal to the distance from the periphery of disc 50 to the top of plunger II in its upper position. Discs ll and 50 are supplied with depressions 53 and 53 (similar to those shown in Fig. 4) to receive the follower 9B and their depth is equal to the maximum displacement of the plunger I I.

When it is in its inoperative position depression 53 lies in the path of follower 98 and the follower together with its arm 99 (being of light material) travel with the plunger. To set the device it is necessary to wind the clockwork by turning handle 97. This, thru the medium of cam depression 53 in disc 41, raises and maintains arm 99 in its uppermost position. The receiver is then placed into position and is supported away from plunger 5 I by arm. 99. As the timing device unwinds, eventually follower 98 and depression 53 coincide and the follower drops into position and simultaneously brings the weight of the receiver to bear on plunger II to switch the telephone back into its ringing or enunciator circuit.

Figs. 10 and 11 are improvements on Fig. 9 in that temporary support for the telephone receiver must be manually set into its operative position. Fig. 11 is a View looking down on Fig. 10. In Fig. 10 the cover has been removed from the timing mechanism housing IIII. 91 is the winding arm attached to the main or winding stem 30 of the clockwork which is enclosed in housing IUI behind face H12. Rigidly attached to stem 30 is the striking arm I03 positioned in front of face I02. The housing is attached to the telephone by means of clamp 15. The actuating lever IM is Z shaped, is pivoted to face I 02 at I05 and its end may be caught and held against upward displacement by the hooked pawl I III. The pawl itself is pivoted to face IE2 at I98 and from its lower end, from hinge I09, is suspended a continuation thereof in the form of short bar IIU. This bar IIll may be displaced counterclockwise by arm Hi3 without any effect on pawl I01. But when arm I03 rotates counter-clockwise it trips pawl IIl'I in striking bar IIII. Spring III anchored to face H32 at H2 tends to keep the pawl in proximity to end I06.

Spring II3 anchored to the housing IUI tends to pull the actuating arm III I down against the action of the pawl, and does so when the pawl is tripped. This spring is not essential since the weight of arm I94 plus the weight of the receiver is enough for the purpose.

The upper horizontal arm I M of actuating arm I04 terminates in tab I I5 which extends somewhat beyond the support for the telephone receiver of the telephone (not shown). Directly over the plunger, and for substantially the full length thereof, there extends from arm II 4 the wings I I6. Slidably positioned in said wings near the ends thereof are buttons II'I. These buttons are displaceable vertically a distance at least equal to the displacement of plunger.

When the device is properly attached to the telephone and arm IHl is held by pawl I0? wings II6 are positioned over the plunger a distance equal to the heads N8 of buttons III. The buttons therefor are held in position by the wings but are actually supported by the telephone plunger. In this position the receiver of the telephone may be used in the normal way; when it is replaced into its nest on the telephone, its weight is transmitted by the buttons III to depress the switch or plunger of the telephone. If the telephone is part of an extension system and it is desired to continue a conversation from another point it is necessary to wind the clockwork of revolving handle 91 clockwise. As the clockwork unwinds arm I03 which eventually trips the telephone pawl I01 and the combined strength of spring I I3 and the weight of the receiver will bring arm I I4 to bear on the plunger to depress it.

In Fig. 12 is shown an ingenious method of accomplishing my purpose. In this case over diagonally opposite prongs of a desk type of telephone I slip sleeves H9 which may be of rubber or other composition. The sleeves terminate at their upper end in short flat horizontal surfaces I26. Attached by well known means to one of these sleeves is the gear train box it! from which winding stem 30 protrudes to carry winding arm 81. The arm 91 is long enough to reach beyond the table I20. When it is desired to use the mechanism it must be wound by (in this case) turning the arm 9'1 clockwise and then placing the receiver diagonally over its normal resting place so that it is supported at each end by tables i120. As the mechanism unwinds arm 9'! turns counter-clockwise to strike or jar the receiver from the adjacent table support. The end of the receiver which as struck is displaced and drops to its normal position thereby bringing the other end with it and thus in its normal position the receiver is depressed.

Although I have described the mechanisms as accessories to a telephone it is conceivable that some of them could very easily be incorporated as an integral part of the instrument without any difiiculty or great inconvenience. Once the desirability of automatically returning the switch of a telephone to the position closing the enunciator circuit after the lapse of a predetermined interval time is appreciated, it is not beyond the average ability of one skilled in the timing-device art to devise means for accomplishing the purpose. From the foregoing de scription it will be seen that I have provided simple, inexpensive and efiicient means for carrying out the objects of my invention. Furthermore, while I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth principally in connection with the French type of telephone set, it is obvious that they could be made operable, with slight modifications, with any type of telephone instrument, and various changes in form, proportion, and in minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a telephone a timing device, lever means actuated by said timing device to depress the switch of the said telephone after the lapse of an interval of time when the telephone receiver is not in its normal resting place, said lever means being adjustable between operative and inoperative position, and means in association with said lever and timing device to wind the latter as the former is adjusted from inoperative position to operative position.

2. In combination with a telephone a timing device, means controlled by said timing device to operate the switch of said telephone when the telephone receiver is not in its normal resting place, and means to wind said timing device; said last mentioned means comprising lever means in the path of the telephone receiver when it is replaced onto the supports provided therefor, the lever means being displaceable by the weight of the telephone receiver, and winding means for the timing device linked to said lever means so that the said device is wound as the said lever means is being displaced.

3. In combination with a telephone a timing device, means controlled by said timing device to operate the switch of said telephone after the lapse of an interval of time when the telephone receiver is not in its proper resting place, means to support the timing device in association with said telephone, means whereby the telephone switch operating means is pivoted to said support and is adjustable between operative and inoperative position, and means in association with said support and the winding mechanism of the said timing device to wind the latter when the said switch operating means is brought from inoperative position to operative position.

4. In combination with a telephone a timing device, means controlled by said timing device to operate the switch of said telephone when the telephone receiver is not in its normal resting place, means to rotatably support the timing device in association with said telephone, and eccentric means linked to the winding means of the timing device; the said eccentric means serving to wind the timing device by displacing its winding means as the said device is set from inoperative position to operative position.

5. In combination, a telephone, a support for the telephone receiver in proximity to its normal support on said telephone, and automatic means to transfer the weight of said receiver from the first mentioned support to the latter to depress the switch operating means of said telephone; said automatic means comprising lever means actuated by a timing device.

6. In combination a telephone, a displaceable support for the telephone receiver in proximity above its normal support on said telephone, the positions of the two supports being so inter-related that the said receiver when in place is carried by one of them, means for locking the first mentioned support against the displacement by the weight of the said receiver, and means for unlocking said locking means so that the weight of'the receiver will fall on its normal support and actuate the switch lever of the telephone.

'7. In combination a telephone, means to support the telephone receiver in proximity above its normally inoperative position on the telephone and above the telephone switch lever, and means to relieve said supporting means of the weight of said receiver by causing it to fall substantially into its normally inoperative position; said relieving means comprising a trip actuated by a timing device.

8. In combination a telephone, a displaceable support for the telephone receiver in proximity above its normal support on said telephone, the positions of the two supports being so interrelated that the said receiver when in place is carried by one of them, means for locking the first mentioned support against displacement by the weight of the said receiver, and automatic means for unlocking said locking means.

9. In combination with a telephone means to support the telephone receiver above its normal resting position on said telephone, a timing device, means for rendering said timing device operative, and means set in motion by said timing device to automatically transfer the said telephone receiver, after a lapse of an interval of time, from the first mentioned supporting means to its normal position so that the switch lever of said telephone is displaced.

10. In combination with a telephone, means to support the telephone receiver above its normal resting position on said telephone and in proximity to the telephone switch lever, and automatic means independent of the weight of the telephone receiver to cause the said receiver to fall into the said normal resting position after the lapse of an interval of time.

11. In combination with a telephone, supporting means for the telephone receiver in proximity above its normal support on said telephone, and means to suddenly transfer the weight of the receiver from the first mentioned supporting means to the said normal support whereupon the Weight of the receiver actuates the switch of said telephone.

12. In combination with a telephone a timing device, means actuated by said timing device to displace the switch of said telephone after the lapse of an interval of time after the telephone receiver is not in its normal resting place, said means being adjustable between operative and inoperative position, and means in association with said first mentioned means and the timing device to wind the latter as said first mentioned means is adjusted from inoperative to operative position.

13. In combination with a telephone, the receiver of which has been removed from its normal resting place, in a telephone system comprising a plurality of telephone instruments on one outside line, a timing device, and means set in motion by said timing device to return said telephone from the talking circuit to the ringing circuit after the lapse of an interval of time, said interval of time being suificient to permit going to and picking up the receiver of another telephone instrument on the same outside line.

14. In combination with a telephone, the receiver of which has been removed from its nor mal resting place, in a telephone system comprising a plurality of telephone instruments on one outside line, a timing device, and lever means set in motion by said timing device to depress the plunger of said telephone after the lapse of an interval of time, said interval of time being suificient to permit going to and picking up the receiver of another telephone instrument on the same outside line.

BERNARD N. GO'I'TLIEB. 

